Gandhi Page #39

MIRABEHN:

Might Mr. Nehru be there too?

PATEL:

(glibly)

The irresponsible young Nehru is in

prison -- again. Though there is a

rumor that under pressure from your

country, they will let him out --

again.

Mirabehn has turned to look at him. She has the same

sophomoric eagerness and intensity as the young Gandhi.

MIRABEHN:

You can't know how closely we follow

your struggle --

(to Patel personally)

how many in England admired what you

did in Bardoli. It must have taken

enormous courage.

PATEL:

Well, in this country one must decide

if one is more afraid of the

government or Gandhi.

(Of Azad, Kallenbach

and himself)

For us, it's Gandhi.

Mirabehn is enthralled by the wit, the modesty that underlines

the words. She faces Kallenbach.

MIRABEHN:

(a note of wonder)

And you're German...

KALLENBACH:

Yes.

MIRABEHN:

And do you feel Indian?

She thinks she does, and that he would want to.

KALLENBACH:

No.

It surprises, but it doesn't deflate.

MIRABEHN:

But you've been with him so long --

why?

Kallenbach, whose size and stillness carry the aura of some

great piece of primitive sculpture -- solid, true,

disturbingly profound -- searches inside himself for the

answer.

KALLENBACH:

...I'd come to believe I would never

meet a truly honest man. And then I

met one.

It is so profoundly simple and deeply felt that it obviously

touches the deeply emotional Mirabehn.

GANDHI'S BUNGALOW - EXTERIOR - DAY

Ba has a spinning wheel on the small porch and Gandhi is

sitting next to her with another. He is trying to imitate

her action -- which is fast and dexterous -- and he gets in

a terrible jumble. Ba watches, laughing.

BA:

Stop -- stop...

She leans across and tries to extricate his fingers.

BA:

God gave you ten thumbs.

GANDHI:

(morosely)

Eleven.

And Ba laughs again and Gandhi smiles, tapping her with

playful reproval on the top of her bent head. There are

footsteps and Gandhi looks up. Patel stands in the doorway.

Gandhi's face changes to something like elation. A beat.

GANDHI:

Sardar...

It means "leader" and it is the name the peasants have given

Patel. Gandhi uses it with an intonation of novelty and

respect. He stands and crosses to Patel, clutching him

emotionally, and it brings a bit of emotion from the

sophisticated Patel.

Gandhi holds him back to look at him.

GANDHI:

What you've done is a miracle. You

have made all India proud.

Patel gets hold of himself, and affects his usual glib

cynicism.

PATEL:

It must have been the only Non-violent

campaign ever led by a man who wanted

to kill everybody every day.

GANDHI:

(laughs)

Not true!

(He means himself.)

The secret is mastering the urge.

He smiles again, then, his arm still around Patel's shoulder,

he turns to greet the others. Azad looks at him, then

facetiously, as though to put down Patel.

AZAD:

He came Second Class.

Gandhi laughs again, squeezing Patel's shoulder.

GANDHI:

Well, we can't expect miracles all

the time.

(Then to Azad, more

soberly)

Your news I understand is not so

good.

Azad shakes his head.

AZAD:

No.

Gandhi reaches forward and touches his hand, and he sees

Mirabehn on the porch. For a moment their eyes meet and then

Mirabehn moves forward quickly and takes his hand, kissing

it, tears running down her cheek. Gandhi touches the top of

her head.

GANDHI:

Come, come -- you will be my

daughter...

LATER - GANDHI'S BUNGALOW - INTERIOR - TWILIGHT

The camera is on a row of sandals by the door -- Patel's,

Azad's, Desai's, Gandhi's. It pans to the room. Gandhi sitting

facing Patel and Azad, Desai in the background, making notes

of the discussion. Gandhi is carding fiber to thread as they

talk. Mirabehn, seated like the others, is almost in the

circle, sitting near Ba, and listening like her. Ba's spinning

never stops.

AZAD:

...but then some rioting broke out

between Hindus and Muslims -- violent,

terrible...

Gandhi looks up at Azad, Azad shakes his head solemnly

AZAD:

Whether it was provoked...

(he shrugs, a hint of

suspicion)

But it gave them an excuse to impose

martial law throughout Bengal.

(He looks at Gandhi,

shaking his head

grimly.)

Some of the things the military have

done...

Rate this script:5.0 / 3 votes